Did You Like This Year's Oscars? Producers Are Set to Return for Oscars 2014!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 01:25 PMPosted by Manny

Academy President, Hawk Koch, has announced that Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, acclaimed motion picture, television, and theater producing team behind Oscars 2013, will return next year for Oscars 2014! The Academy Awards will air live on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014.

“Craig and Neil have the overwhelming support of the Academy's Governors to produce the Oscars again in 2014," said Academy President Hawk Koch. "In order to establish continuity with this year's enormously successful show, we felt it was important to give these consummate professionals the green light now to begin creating another great evening."

Zadan and Meron said, "We are very honored to have been asked to return as Oscar producers for a second year." And they are looking forward to creating a distinctive and entertaining show.

Were you entertained by the Oscar telecast this year? Then you're in for a treat! Here's the rest of the press release:

“Craig and Neil have great relationships, a sense of showmanship, and a passion for our Academy,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “And they’re a pleasure to work with. All perfect qualities for our show."

The February 2013 Oscars hosted by Seth MacFarlane, drew an average audience of 40.3 million total viewers and delivered a 13.0 rating among adults 18-49. The show was TV’s most-watched entertainment telecast in the last 3 years, and grew its overall audience for the 2nd straight year (+3%), surging 11% in adults 18-49 (13.0 rating vs. 11.7 rating) to its best numbers since 2010. In addition, the show scored gains year-to-year with adults 18-34 (+20% - 11.3 rating vs. 9.4 rating), hitting its highest number in 6 years – since 2007. Overall, it was the Oscars second-most-watched telecast since 2005.

Among the innovations that Zadan and Meron plan to bring back to the 2014 show is the Oscar Experience College Search, which allows young filmmakers to assist with bringing the Oscar statuettes on-and-off stage during the show.

The Zadan/Meron Oscars displayed a signature style that incorporated a single concept for the entire evening which linked together the disparate elements of the Oscar show through music, especially classic movie themes and the frequent appearances by MacFarlane to announce the evening’s presenters. The 2013 show was also distinguished by the use of motion picture talent as performers in the show such as the dance numbers performed by Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Zadan and Meron served as executive producers for the 2002 “Best Picture” winner “Chicago,” which won Oscars® in 6 of the 13 categories in which it was nominated. Their credits also include the features “Footloose” (2011), “Hairspray,” and “The Bucket List.” Zadan also produced the original “Footloose” (1984).

Zadan and Meron’s work in television includes the series “SMASH” and such movies as “A Raisin in the Sun” and “Steel Magnolias.”

For Broadway, they recently produced the Tony Award® winning revivals of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Promises, Promises.”

The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

Jupiter Ascending: What is the New Sci-Fi Movie from Wachowski Siblings About?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 02:07 PMPosted by Manny

It's all about being the Queen of the Universe! The Wachowski Siblings have started shooting the new sci-fi film "Jupiter Ascending" starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, Tuppence Middleton, Doona Bae, James D’Arcy, and Sean Bean.

Like a sci-fi twist on "Cinderella," Kunis stars as Jupiter Jones, Russian immigrant who scrubs toilets for a living but then discovers that she is next in line to be the Queen of the Universe! How quaint!

The plot sounds less head-scratchy than the recent Wachowski flick, "Cloud Atlas." Here's the full press release:

Filming is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “Jupiter Ascending,” an original science fiction epic adventure from filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski. Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis star in the film, which began shooting at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on April 2, 2013.

From the streets of Chicago to far flung galaxies whirling through space, “Jupiter Ascending” was conceived and written by the Wachowskis, who are also directing. Award-winning producer Grant Hill, with whom the writer/directors have collaborated since “The Matrix” Trilogy, is producing the film together with the Wachowskis. Roberto Malerba and Bruce Berman are serving as executive producers.

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning toilets and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along – her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

Behind the scenes, “Jupiter Ascending” reunites the Wachowskis with their longstanding collaborators, who most recently worked with them on “Cloud Atlas.” They include Oscar®-winning cinematographer John Toll (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”); production designer Hugh Bateup; editor Alexander Berner; costume designer Kym Barrett; and makeup and hair designer Jeremy Woodhead. “Jupiter Ascending” will showcase the kind of cutting-edge visual effects that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowskis’ films. Dan Glass (“Batman Begins,” “Cloud Atlas”) is the film’s visual effects supervisor, a post he has occupied for the Wachowskis since “The Matrix” Trilogy. Additionally, John Gaeta, the visual effects Oscar® winner behind “The Matrix,” is contributing to the visual effects design.

The production will remain in the UK at the studios through June, at which time filming will move to Chicago for completion.

“Jupiter Ascending” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

The Jackie Robinson movie, "42," scored at the box-office with $27.3 million debut. The film stars Harrison Ford as pioneering Brooklyn Dodgers executive, Branch Rickey, who signed Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) despite Major League Baseball's color line.

"42" is heartfelt but I found it too earnest. Yet, its heart is at the right place. "42" is shaping up to be "The Help" of 2013.

At No. 2 was the so unfunny it's scary "Scary Movie 5," yup we're now on No. 5 but do you still care? The horror parody featuring cameos from Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen opened in second place with $15.1 million.

Focus Features' "The Place Beyond the Pines" expanded into 514 theaters making $4.1 million for the tenth place. Starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper from director Derek Cianfrance, "The Place Beyond the Pines" has now accumulated $5.5 million worth of box-office moolah.